THOUSANDS of new homes set for Braintree will mean a new secondary school must be built within four years, the Times can reveal.

Braintree Council’s draft Local Plan will see 845 homes built a year until 2033.

The council needs to give permission for a further 10,000 homes to meet the target.

But the district will be growing so rapidly a new secondary school will have to be built to cope with the homes.

In a response to the plan, Essex County Council said a new school needs to be created near Great Notley.

Land east of Great Notley has been put forward as a strategic growth area for up to 2,000 homes.

As well as homes, there would be employment opportunities, primary and secondary schools, NHS facilities, public open spaces, and food and retail outlets.

It is understood the town’s current secondary schools – Alec Hunter Academy, Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form, and Tabor Academy – will not be able to cope with the increase in homes.

The report said: “Whilst some of this growth could be accommodated by utilising existing capacity at the three secondary schools serving the town and by some expansion of these schools, there is likely to be a need to establish a new secondary school on this site.”

Residents had mixed views about the prospect of a new secondary school.

Samantha Gibbins, from Chaucer Crescent, said: “I’m not sure about the secondary school but they certainly need a new doctors surgery if they are going build more homes – they need a surgery regardless of building more houses.”

Andrea Abbott, from Tanners Meadow, said: “Braintree has needed another secondary school for the last 10 years.

“You have only to look at the num- ber of primary schools in the area and surrounding villages that filter into three secondary schools. A couple of those secondary schools’ parents don’t want their children in. The truth is the town can’t cope with yet another influx of people.”

Braintree Council said it would make sure any necessary infrastructure would be in place first.

A spokesman said: “An important part of the local plan is to make sure that new infrastructure and services are in place at the right time to support new and existing communities.”

Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for education and lifelong learning, said: “Current projections show that a one form of entry expansion will be needed at a Braintree secondary school in 2020.

“We will continue to work closely with Braintree District Council to ensure there are sufficient school places to meet demand as and when developments proceed.”